I wanted to say something super resonant for #BellLet’sTalk day this year. I rewrote this at least 4 times but honestly, everything just felt like a generic shell of what I actually wanted to say, so here is the truth: everyone will be talking about mental health today, but we need to talk about mental illness and learning disabilities. So many of us get missed because we don't look like we need help. The past few weeks, despite throwing this term around mindlessly all the time, I have finally figured out what the hell self-compassion actually looks like in practice. (And no, it doesn’t look like making excuses to let myself do whatever I want.)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Many people think mental illness and learning disorders are an excuse to do less, but understanding for the first time ever why it feels like I’m constantly struggling against my own brain brought me to tears this week. I have never said the words “I’m trying as hard as I can” so many times as I did in the past few months. Of all the things I ever thought could be causing the problem (stress, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, depression, a sleep disorder, even a touch of OCD), the answer that was right in front of me never crossed my mind, because of the way learning disorders are perceived and portrayed - especially in women (for whom they often present very differently in vs. men). I love learning more than anything else in the world. I thought these were just deeply undesirable personality traits, or maybe even that I was simply a textbook Aquarius. #oops ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We all have struggles that we're low-key (or high-key) ashamed to talk about. Anyone can have a mental illness or a learning disorder, even those of us who look like pretty high achievers from the outside. It has nothing to do with intelligence or effort. We need to stop labelling each other as attention- or drug-seeking. The one thing I would really like to see become stigma-free are the medications. I’m always here if you need to talk. 🧠🖤 #itsfineimfine#feltcutemightdeletelater#prefrontalcortexprobs

When I dream of dying, I never feel so loved.
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With it being #bellletstalk today I wanted to write out a big mental health post but everything seemed so repetitive. I talk almost daily about mental health and my own journey so today I'm just putting some good news into the world.
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I'll be working with @romapcounsellor to make incredible health and wellness more accessible to a wider audience.
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What's really shocked me over this last year is although we talk allllll the time about creating better "self care" for ourselves the resources out there are (unfortunately) filled with a lot of fluff, quick tricks and tips and very rarely do you find grounded information in easily accessible areas of the internet.
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This new project will be rolling out over the next few weeks with the hope for it to grow out of the needs of the community.
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So, if you could ask a researcher and a professional counsellor to pull any sort of information for you - what would you want to know? ♥️🌻 I personally can't wait to find more resources for the mental health of chronic illness sufferers 👐
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Please give @romapcounsellor a follow to stay up to date as we start rolling out this exciting info! at Vancouver, British Columbia

Today is @bell_letstalk Day and every year it truly hits me in the feels!
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Mental health is something that hits very close to home for me between working with clients 1:1 and my own history/challenges with my own mental health.
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One of the most challenging things, for me personally, when it comes to mental health is to realize that it is something that constantly needs to be addressed and worked on. Sure at certain times of my life the work has been almost minimal and super easy, but none the less I was still taking the necessary steps to help with my mental health. This is also one of the main things that I talk about with clients right from the beginning.
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Some of the things that I go regularly to help ease my own anxieties and depression are:
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1)Making sure I move my body daily. Each day this looks different. Some days its the gym. Some days its stretching on my living room floor while I binge watch Seinfeld.
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2)Checking in with myself AT LEAST 3 times a day on what I really need in that moment. Do I need water right now. Do I need to go outside. Do I need a hug. So often we put everyone before ourselves, so taking these moments to really tune in lets me know I am important too.
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3)Reducing my caffeine intake…Now if your a “regular” over here you know I love my matcha and coffee…BUT what you don’t see is that I only have one cup a day of one or the other. Caffeine in large amounts really amplifies my anxiety and stress.
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4)Natural light! Mostly I try to get outside daily for about 30 minutes to do this, but somedays life happens either with work or something and I can’t make time to get out while the sun is out. In these cases I make sure to open up the blinds of EVERY window I possibly can and work nearest to that light WITHOUT other lights interfering, if I can. I also will try to even just go out and do a lap around the block on these days.
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5)Reminding myself that I am exactly where I need to be when I need to. Comparison is the quickest way to tighten ANY anxiety or depression.
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What are some of the steps you take daily to help ease your mental health challenges? at Vancouver, British Columbia

We all know someone or are someone who has been touched by mental illness. Share and hashtag #BellLetsTalk to raise some $ for this important cause ❤️ #Repost@bell_letstalk
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Rise and shine! ☀️ Today is Bell Let's Talk Day! Don't hit the snooze - join the conversation and help drive donations for mental health initiatives in Canada! #BellLetsTalk

We will be at the Mind of Mine event tomorrow at @ubc_okanagan. We will have a table with information on our programs and a volunteer sign up sheet. Hope to see everyone there! 🧠 at Kelowna, British Columbia

Health Canada has estimated that 1 in 3 users of cannabis will develop a problem with their use. Long term use can be associated with decreased mental sharpness and poor performance at school and work.
It is crucial to recognize when it might be time to seek professional help. Talk to your primary doctor, who will be able to guide you to a licensed therapist or counselor.
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#reachouttogether#mentalhealthawareness#encouragetoexpress#healthcanada at Toronto, Ontario

I was reminded of this last night when a beautiful soul messaged me on Instagram.⁣
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She had asked if I had a newspaper publishing a few years back {the first time I shared my mental health story in a larger way}, and she was grateful for me doing so, despite how scared I was to speak up.⁣
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It was then she was going through therapy, not knowing much about mental illness, and her parents left my article on her bed to see.⁣
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Thankfully this brought her comfort in knowing someone who had gone through something so similar to her reality at the time.⁣
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What a beautiful reminder that we truly don’t know who we’ve impacted in some way.⁣
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That’s really what it comes down to, trust that someone is listening anytime you share something. Even if it’s one person.

Holidays can be a stressful time of year, for anyone and everyone. In fact, a recent survey (by Onepoll) found that the holiday season stresses out 88% of the US population (woah).. and for a variety of reasons. So what are some ways we can manage this stress? Our friends at the Canadian Mental Health Association offered these 8 wonderful tips! =====================================
(Link: https://www.mymentalhealth.ca/8-tips-for-mental-wellness-during-the-holidays/) at Mother Earth

It’s World Mental Health Day. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Take time for yourself, speak to someone, don’t be afraid of talking about your mental health and well being. It’s not embarrassing and it is not a weakness. Here are some resources , and please feel free to reach out to me if any of you need someone to talk to. ❤️❤️🇨🇦
Kids help phone: 1-800-668-6868
Crisis Service Canada:
1833-456-4566 or text 45645
Centre for suicide prevention:
1-833-456-4566
Canada Drug Rehab Addiction Centre: 1-866-462-6362
National Eating Disorder Information Centre: 1-866-633-4220
#worldmentalhealthday#canadamentalhealth#wmhd2018 at Red Deer, Alberta

So here is the thing....This happy smiling girl you see in the photo, she wasn’t always that way. Heck she still isn’t always that way (I mean I’m only [email protected] human!).
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For years I battled with low self esteem, depression, and anxiety that most of the time manifested itself into angry outbursts and binge eating. By the time I was in my late teens all this lead to substance abuse problems (which included food and other things) as I tried to avoid my feelings because I was told “they weren’t good” which in my head meant “I wasn’t good enough”.
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So I continued to use. To hide away from my feelings. To numb myself. To avoid. To stuff things down until the moments where it all boiled over....which happened more than I care to admit. This was my life until it wasn’t....
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Until one day I woke up, not only emotional ill but also physically ill. Between thyroid problems, autoimmune disease, and a cancer scare I knew I just couldn’t keep living like this.....I needed to get better. I wanted to live and I wanted to be healthier! And the first step was to just start feeling....to stop using any and all substances (including food) to numb myself and hide from my emotions.
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Now your probably wondering why I’m telling you all this and well it’s simply because I want you to know that it can get better if you allow it to. I’m telling you this so you know your not alone. I’m telling you this so you know you don’t need to hide anymore, and that if your ready there are so many people (myself included) out there ready to support you and help you along the way. I’m telling you this because you are enough.
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You are enough. I am enough. We are enough. And we don’t need to hide or numb ourselves anymore 💕 at Vancouver, British Columbia

Hold Up! Wait!! Smoothie Bowl Season isn’t quite over yet!!!!
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For me smoothies are a year round thing. It’s the whole listening to my body and what it needs/wants in the moment and sometimes it’s a smoothie (even on chilly mornings) and sometimes it’s not.
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BUT whenever my body is craving a little pick me up nutrient wise I head over to my blender and blend up whatever inspires me. I also love adding in extra nutrients with powdered or liquid nutrients to help give my brain, hormones, mood, and body a little extra support.
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One of my go to smoothie add-ins is @sea_licious#Omega3HighEPA liquid in mango flavor 🤤🤤🤤. The best thing about this liquid is that it does NOT taste fishy WHAT SO EVER....cause let’s face it most omega 3’s have a fishy after tasty OR you get the fishy burbs later🤢.......not a pleasant experience AT ALL!! #SealiciousHighEPA also (like the name says) is a high EPA liquid with a ratio of 2:1 (EPA:DHA) which is super important to me to help support my mental health, mood balance and hormone balance. They also add in vitamin D so it’s ☝🏻 less thing I need to remember to supplement with!
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Sealicious Mango Green Smoothie Bowl
1 cup frozen Mango Chunks
1 handful Spinach
1/4 Avocado
1/2 Lime juiced
1 tsp Sealicious High EPA in Mango
4 oz Coconut Water
Blend all ingredients in your blender using a tamper and then pour into a bowl. Top with your favorite toppings (my favorite are frozen raspberries, coconut chips, Paleo granola) and then chow down!!!
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Thanks @VistaMagCanada for introducing me to such amazing products (like this one) that help aid me on this healing journey of mine.
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#VistaMagCanada#VistaAmbassadors at Vancouver, British Columbia

Is my Approach to Therapy right for You?
Throughout my life I have had the opportunity to see several therapists some were the “right fit” and others were not. When I was a young university student I went to speak with a “feminist therapist” having no idea of what to expect. Our sessions were based in therapeutic conversation. It feel as though she genuinely cared for me and although the sessions were professional they were also warm and real. She even used self-disclosure ( in appropriate times) to normalize my experiences. It was profoundly helpful for me to have someone safe who really listened to me. She didn’t have all the answers or all the solutions but her presence in my life was very therapeutic. I felt safe, validated and deeply understood. 💙 #moncton#counselling#selflove#selfworth#feministcounsellor#newbrunswickcanada#canadamentalhealth#mentalhealth#psychotherapy at Moncton, New Brunswick

Coffee ☕️
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It’s kind of something I’ve tried to give up numerous times (for whatever reasons) and always end up coming back to. Not for the increased energy from caffeine or even because I’m addicted (I can go days and weeks at a time and not want one)...But because I genuinely LOVE IT!! The taste. Smell. Warmth. Ohhhh and the fact I can add coconut oil to it and it makes such a delicious, velvety, smooth healthy latte!
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Lately I’ve become hooked on @SilkenyOrganics#OrganicCoconutOil and adding it to my coffee makes my morning “latte” not only tastier but also adds some amazing health benefits!
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So your probably wondering.....Why the [email protected] add coconut oil to your coffee?!?! Well here is the thing....FAT DOES NOT MAKE YOU FAT!!! In fact #heathyfats can actually improve your mood, memory, skin, energy, help you to lose weight, and can benefit those with high cholesterol......SAY WHAT?!?!?
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So how does this work you might ask....simple!!! Coconut Oil contains the healthy type of saturated fat that increases HDL cholesterol, which is the good type of cholesterol that actually helps improve brain and heart health. Increasing your HDL cholesterol does this by lowering your #LDL cholesterol (which is the one that is responsible for clogging your arteries).
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Coconut Oil also contains MCT (or medium chain fatty acids) which can are the ones that can increase your energy, skin health, and help you feel fuller longer!!!
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I love having my coffee in a bulletproof style either before a workout (for the increased energy aspect) during a fast (yes it still counts as a fast if you “bulletproof” your coffee) OR honestly JUST BECAUSE its tasty AF!!!
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For the prefect coconut oil bulletproof coffee simple brew a cup of your favorite coffee, and blend it in a high speed blender with 1 tsp @silkenyorganics coconut oil, 1 scoop of collagen, a pinch of salt and 1/4 tsp pure vanilla!! Pour into your favorite mug and sip while enjoying your favorite morning activities!!!
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@VistaMagCanada#VistaAmbassadors#VistaMagCanada at Calgary, Alberta